The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-10-19
How One SOLDIER OBEYED
ORDERS.

Twenty-Five years ago, if you fol-
lowed the pike out of Winchester, Nir-
ginia, going south, you would see on
Che left-hand side of the road, about
sixty rods from the town, small two
story frame house, standing near the
pike, in a barren yard. That house
was the scene of military tragedy
such as did not often occur in the
armies, and which illustrated in the
most striking manner the fidelity of a
young recruit to duty, and to the strict
military maxim-"obey orders" Let
me tell the story.
1t will be best to say at the start that
the real names of the principal actors
an this episode are suppressed. They
are fresh in mind, and could easily be
used; but when the account has been
read the reasons for withholding them
will be perfectly understood. The
hero of the adventure was at the time
a Lad of less than twenty years, a re-
.cruit of the Fifteenth Maine Infantry,
and had been but six weeks in the sery-
ice. His share in the events of that
night was not only honorable but
highly praisewortby; yet as he may
now be, if surviving, the father of a
family, possibly man of wealth and
prominence at home, should not wish,
without his consent, to attach his true
name to the sketch. We will therefore
call him Private Brigham. AS for the
unhappy victim of the encounter, whose
rashness, or worse, led him on to his
death, charity to his memory and to the
feelings of surviving relatives appeals
to me to withhold his name. He will
be styled Lieutenant Y.
The time was April, 1865; it was a
few days after the news had reached us
of the surrender at Appomattox. was
Judge Advocate of Dwight's Division,
which was thrown out about two miles
morning the field Officer of the Day
came riding in to headquarters to re-
port. L stood by and heard what he
said to the Adjutant General.
Everything is all right on the picket
line; but hear of row that occurred
at a house where we have a safeguard,
on the pike, back near town. There
was a man killed-some say an officer. I"
/ was immediately dispatched to in
vestigate. AS rode up to the house /
saw a group OF idlers in front. One of
them said something about "blood."
Dismounting, / stopped long enough
outside to see what they were looking
at. Sure enough, it was blood; drops
Of il on the steps and on the ground.
I went in. Two or three women
we're in the hall, pale as ghosts, and
almost hysterical. They all began to
talk at once, but 1 stopped them.
told them who was, my errand, and
as TO what had happened.
got their story and then went into
the back room. There was Private
Brigham. slender slip of fellow,
about as pale as the women, but look
ing just like soldier as he grasped his
good Springfield musket with the bay
onet fixed.
4 had learned enough already to sat
isfy me where the truth lay, and
talked kindly and assuringly to the
young soldier while took notes of his
statement.
Give it TO me just as it happened"
Z said. "If you have obeyed orders
and done your duty, no harm shall
come to you"
He told me his story, which perfectly
matched that of the women, in a sim
pie and straightforward way. These
accounts, I have never doubted, gave
She whole truth of the affair.
Before going back to headquarters
j went into another room, where some
thing on the floor was covered by a
white sheet from a bed. One of the
women turned it down. A dead man
lay there with q bayonet wound clear
through his breast. There were no
straps upon the shoulders of his blouse,
but I recognized the face at once. II
Vas that of Lieutenant y, of the
cavalry, whom / had met in Winches-
ter the winter before. He was q wild
fellow, much given to drink and dissi.
patio but of handsome face and fine
appearance.
Aud this was how it happened:
The occupants of the house were O
widow aud her two grown daughters.
They had been annoyed by depreda